Petunia plant named &#39;kermar&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Kermar’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, cascading and uniform plant habit; compact growth habit; early flowering habit; and numerous double flowers that are white in color with distinct purple-colored venation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Kermar.

[0002] The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new cascading Petuniaswith numerous double flowers with attractive flower colors.

[0003] The new Petunia originated from a cross made by the Inventor inAugust, 1998 of the Petunia cultivar Sunsolos, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unidentified proprietary seedlingselection of Petunia with purple-colored flowers, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was selected as a single plantfrom the resulting progeny in July, 1999 in Over, Cambridge, UnitedKingdom on the basis of its double and numerous white-colored flowerswith distinct purple-colored venation.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetativecuttings since August, 1999, taken in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdomhas shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Plants of the cultivar Kermar have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kermar’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kermar’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0007] 1. Outwardly spreading, cascading and uniform plant habit.

[0008] 2. Compact growth habit.

[0009] 3. Early flowering habit.

[0010] 4. Numerous double flowers that are white in color with distinctpurple-colored venation.

[0011] Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Sunsolos, in the following characteristics:

[0012] 1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact and not aspendulous as plants of the cultivar Sunsolos.

[0013] 2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants ofthe cultivar Sunsolos.

[0014] 3. Plants of the new Petunia have double flowers whereas plantsof the cultivar Sunsolos have single flowers.

[0015] Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent,an unidentified purple-colored double-flowered Petunia selection, in thefollowing characteristics:

[0016] 4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia had fewer petaloids thanflowers of plants of the cultivar Silk Road.

[0017] Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Doubloon White Star, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom, plants of the new Petuniadiffered from plants of the cultivar Doubloon White Star in thefollowing characteristics:

[0018] 1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact than plants of thecultivar Doubloon White Star.

[0019] 2. Plants of the new Petunia had rounder leaves than plants ofthe cultivar Doubloon White Star.

[0020] 3. Plants of the new Petunia flowered about three days earlierthan plants of the cultivar Doubloon White Star.

[0021] 4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia had fewer petaloids thanflowers of plants of the cultivar Doubloon White Star.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0022] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Petunia, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Petunia.

[0023] The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kermar’ grown in a 20-cm hangingbasket container. The photograph on the second sheet comprises aclose-up view of typical flowers of ‘Kermar’. Plants used in thephotographs were about 14 weeks from planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0024] The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom,in a plastic-covered greenhouse during the late summer and autumn withday temperatures ranging from 18 to 30° C. and night temperaturesranging from 14 to 20° C. After planting rooted cuttings, plants werepinched one time. Plants used for the description were about 18 weeksfrom planting. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

[0025] Botanical Classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Kermar.

[0026] Parentage:

[0027]Female parent.—Petunia×hybrida cultivar Sunsolos, not patented.

[0028]Male parent.—Unidentified proprietary seedling selection ofPetunia×hybrida, not patented.

[0029] Propagation:

[0030]Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

[0031]Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 21° C. Winter:About 14 days at 21° C.

[0032]Time to produce a rooted young plant.—Summer: About 30 days at 20°C. Winter: About 45 days at 20° C.

[0033]Root description.—Fine, fibrous.

[0034]Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

[0035] Plant Description:

[0036]Form.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially upright,then outwardly spreading and cascading; uniform; compact growth habit.Freely branching habit with about seven lateral branches developingafter pinching (removal of terminal apices).

[0037]Plant height.—About 16 cm.

[0038]Plant diameter.—About 60 cm.

[0039]Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.

[0040]Lateral branches.—Length: About 36.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A to 146B;younger branches overlain with 187A.

[0041]Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate before flowering;opposite after flowers develop; simple. Length: About 5.3 cm. Width:About 3.2 cm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Slightly acute. Base: Slightly acuteto slightly obtuse. Margin: Entire; pubescent. Texture: Upper surface:Slightly pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescence along veins. Venationpattern: Pinnate, arcuate.

[0042]Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 137B. Developing leaves,lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 137B. Fullyexpanded leaves, lower surface: 137C to 137D. Venation, upper surface:137B. Venation, lower surface: 137C to 137D.

[0043]Petiole length.—About 1.1 cm.

[0044]Petiole diameter.—About 2.4 mm.

[0045]Petiole color.—146B.

[0046] Flower Description:

[0047]Flower type and habit.—Double salverform flowers; flowers facemostly upward or outward; axillary. Very freely flowering habit,typically one flower per node; indeterminate.

[0048]Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long floweringperiod, spring until frost in the autumn; flowering continuous duringthis period. Plants start flowering about 42 days after planting rootedcuttings. Flowers persistent.

[0049]Flower longevity on the plant.—About three days.

[0050]Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.

[0051]Flower size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Tube length: About 1.9 cm.Throat diameter, distal end: About 1.5 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end:About

[0052]Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Length: About Diameter:About 1.2 cm. Shape: Elongated oblong with ruffled apices. Color:

[0053]Corolla.—Quantity/arrangement: About five fused outer petals in asingle whorl, funnelform; interior to the outer whorl, about fiveprogressively smaller petaloids, variable in size. Petal length fromthroat: About Petal width: About Petal/petaloid shape: Petal/petaloidapex: Cuspidate; slightly incurved. Petal/petaloid margin: Entire;ruffled. Petal/petaloid texture: Smooth, velvety. Color:Petals/petaloids, upper surface, when opening and fully opened: 155A.Petals/petaloids, lower surface, when opening and fully opened: 155Cflushed with 83D. Flower throat (inside): Flower tube (outside):Venation, upper petal/petaloid surface: 83A. Venation, lowerpetal/petaloid surface: Main veins, 148A or 200C; smaller veins, 83D.Venation, throat: Venation, tube: Close to 187A.

[0054]Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals fusedat base, star-shaped. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.9 mm. Shape:Strap-like; elongate. Apex: Blunt, rounded. Margin: Entire, pubescent.Texture, both surfaces: Pubescent, glandular. Color: Upper surface:Lower surface:

[0055]Peduncles.—Length: About 2.75 cm. Width: About Angle: About fromthe stem. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 137D overlainwith 165A.

[0056]Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About four orfive. Stamen length: About 2.4 cm. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther size:Length: About Width: About Anther color: Pale gray blue, Pollen amount:Moderate. Pollen color: 106B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Stylelength: About 1.9 cm. Style color: Stigma shape: Four-parted, rounded.Stigma color: Ovary color:

[0057]Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been observed.

[0058] Disease/Pest Resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not beennoted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia.

[0059] Garden Performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observedto have good garden performance. Plants of the new Petunia have beennoted to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 35° C. and have good toleranceto rain and wind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named‘Kermar’, as illustrated and described.